Independent mergers and acquisitions advisory boutique firm Lexington is to open an office in Bath as part of its plan to expand into the South West.
The office in Queen Square, pictured, will be led by recently appointed director James Cox, who has joined the Cardiff-headquartered firm from global accountancy group PwC.
Lexington, which specialises in disposals, acquisitions, buyouts, growth funding and private equity, said its expansion into the South West would build on its strong foundations and track record across South Wales, where it has achieved strong grown since its launch in 2016.
Describing the South West as a vibrant, exciting hub of entrepreneurship and private companies Lexington said it could deliver “a differentiated and market-leading merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory service” to the region’s exciting and high-growth small and medium-sized firms across a wide range of sectors.
James Cox, pictured with Lexington founder and managing director Gary Partridge, brought a wealth of experience in the M&A advisory space, Lexington said, and would particularly target firms along the M4 and M5 corridors.
James started his career as an analyst in the London office of investment bank DC Advisory, advising privately owned businesses and private equity firms on both the sell-side and buy-side.
He later moved to multinational investment bank and financial services company UBS, where he advised larger corporates.
He returned to his hometown of Bath in 2021 to head PwC’s South West corporate finance offering, establishing a strong profile in the regional market and gaining a deep awareness of the market dynamics across a wide range of sectors.
Lexington founder and managing director Gary Partridge said this, coupled with his strong national network of investors, would provide substantial value to Lexington’s clients in the region.
“We are absolutely thrilled that James has decided to join the Lexington team,” he added.
“It is an exciting time for our business at a point where the levels of M&A activity are on an upturn.
“James is exactly the type of advisor who fits into our business of providing honest, trustworthy and insightful advice to our clients.
“From the very first meeting, we felt that there was a match with Lexington and we are all excited to welcome James to our business.”
James added: “Being born and raised in Somerset, I’m passionate about the region and the local business community.
“Bath, Bristol and the surrounding areas are home to so many exciting, high-growth businesses, which present fantastic opportunities for increased investment in the region.”
“As a mid-market boutique corporate finance firm, Lexington can provide a differentiated, independent advisory service, adding significant value to local businesses trying to navigate investment opportunities, or an exit process in the future.
“I’m very excited by the opportunity to work alongside the highly experienced team at Lexington and look forward to delivering excellent results for local businesses.”
